the long bitter trail
...re many similarities between the two that made Whites feel threatened. There is evidence of Indian uprisings in both the North and South. The ‘Conspiracy of Pontiac’ was the first effort of an Indian military alliance who attempted to drive British soldiers out of the Indian country in the North. Jackson became hostile to the Creek tribe in the South, as they supported the British during the War of 1812. Wealthy Indians from both the North and South made white citizens feel threatened, by their rising power. For example, white Georgia felt threatened by John Ross, who had acquired an adequate plantation and a number of slaves. They believed if Native Americans became too powerful, than this would increase the influence of Indian ‘civilization’ in America. Lewis Cass, who acted as Superintendent of Indian Affairs in Michigan, influenced the government in their opinions of Indians, stating that they were prone to violence, murder, mayhem and corruption. In order to become accepted by white society, Indians adopted many aspects of white culture in order to survive. In the North, many Indians began to fence in their fields, raise domestic animals and build separate farmhouses in the white style. Similarly, in the South-east, an effort was made by chiefs from many of the major tribes to move towards ‘civilization’. The five major tribes in the South eventually came to be considered as the five ‘civilized’ tribes in comparison to Native Americans in the North-east. Missionaries attempted to establish English-speaking schools and a higher degree of male involvement in agriculture. However, there were many differences between the tribes of the North and South that would explain why the South was hit hardest when it came to the Removal Act in 1830. When it came to removing the Southern tribes West, Jackson did not follow government policy. The Federal Government stood by to watch white intruders destroying Indian farms and crops. Annuities that the Indians received were withheld from many tribes, unless they migrated west. The Choctaws response was divided over the removal process and also over whether or not to adopt white culture. Many of their objections were removed by the use of bribes, and influential chiefs were promised private reservations in Mississippi. This led them to sign the Treaty of Dancing Rabbit Creek on September 27, 1830, in which they agreed to move to an area of fertile land. During the journey they were escorted by government troops. The first group traveled during winter, and only eighty-eight of the thousand people who left, made it to their destination. Although a few prosperous Indians were allowed to stay, most made this journey with very few provisions. The migration of the Chickasaws was not as disastrous. The government realized that better transportation and regulations needed to be put into place, which resulted in most Chickasaws migrating to the Mississippi area. However, not all tribes would migrate so willingly. The Creeks refused to accept Jackson’s Removal Act. The usually peaceful Creeks resorted to violence as raids and fraudulent land claims pressurized them to migrate west. The Second Creek War led to much of the Creek population to be chained and marched under military guard to be put on boats which would transport them west. It is estimated that around forty-five per cent of the tribe did not make it due to starvation, disease and military combat. The Cherokees had a similar experience. Under their leader, John Ross they were adamantly opposed to leaving their homes. In 1832 Cherokee land was sold in the state lottery. When they didn’t move by the deadline of May 23, 1828, soldiers invaded their houses and forced transportation began. Around twenty per cent of Cherokee lives were lost in this movement which was called the ‘trail of tears’. The biggest resistance was put up by the Seminoles of Florida. Whites were especially hostile to th...